Which is better?

“Using” a bioscience recruiter or applying to the bioscience job online?

The recipe for clinical depression in the bioscience world

I was asked this by a bioscience job seeker who had just spent a considerable amount of time “updating” his CV, but did not know which companies he should be applying to.

Read this blog and you will find that I teach something completely different:

Job boards and “career pages” fill 20% of the jobs out there, but your personal chances of getting even a phone screen are down around 2%. That is a recipe for clinical depression!

Recruiters work for the companies, so if they don’t have the job you are qualified for, they don’t have a job for you and trying to get our attention will really only irritate us and, therefore, you.

[Tweet “The Fairy Job Mother died in 1930.”]

Recruiters are not Talent Agents. We don’t pick a player and shop him around to the various teams working to get him the best deal, like a “hot” athlete. (Or if we were to consider it, you had better be cash on the hoof – better than everyone else out there and within commute distance of the company paying for the search.)

I’m sorry that this is the harsh reality.

75% or more of all jobs, high or lowly, are filled, not by what you know, not even by who you know, but by who knows you.

Your LinkedIn Profile: Avoid the Common Mistakes Made by Bioscience Pros

Featured Posts

“A job, any job” will not usually take you toward your goal, even as it puts food on the table. And remember that companies don’t hire for your sparkling personality (or your desperation) but because they have a problem they need someone to solve. What problems do you want to solve?

Most jobs are filled by personal networking. But if you want a recruiter to call you, we have to know that you exist. Make it easy for us – Fill out your LinkedIn Profile! Recruiters are on LinkedIn every day. Even if you are not now looking for a job, keep your profile current. Since most jobs last only about 5 years these days, having a LinkedIn profile is essential.